Coin-controlled exhibition apparatus



Gate 4;, 1932. 1.. c. RATHBUN COIN CONTROLLED EXHIBITION APPARATUS FiledMarch 27,. 1951 :5 SheQtS-Sheet Fig, 4?.

Snventor Louis Cifiazfhun,

Oct. 4, 1932. L... c. RATHBUN 1,330,484

COIN CONTROLLED EXHIBITION APPARATUS Filed March 27, 1931 (5Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Louis C.Ra7z5un,

| c. RATHBUN 1,880,484

COIN CONTROLLED EXHIBITION APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Get. 4, 1932.

Filed March 2'7, 1951 INVENTOR Lama's (lfia ZzEzZn,

Bif L ATT NEY

Patented Get. t, 13 32 we see tease LOUIS c. RATIEIBUN, or onriwnlmioweCOIN-CONTROLLED EXHIBITION APPARATUS;

Application filed March 7, 1931. Serial n senses.

objects or figures in rotation or at any determined selection bymechanism under the initial control of the operator.

Another ob ect of my improvements 1s to include in the mechanismelectro-ma netical ly actuated devices and a timer for the use thereof,with object illuminating means, all in a suitable-circuit with a sourceof electrical current, and a switch for initiating the control thereoffor the use of the operator.

Another object of my improvements is to provide releasable interlockingdevices for controlling the rotary object-displaying means, and actuatedby an electro-magnet within the train of said electro-magneticallyactuated devices.

I have accomplished these objects in a successful reduction of thisinvention to practice, by the means which are hereinafter described andclaimed, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Fig. l is a side elevation of the cabinet inclosing my apparatus,with a portion broken away. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the cabinet,showing the starter device and coin chute face plate. Fig. 3 is a frontelevation, on a larger scale, of the inclined front part of the glazedchamber containing the apparatus, and showing the selector dial with therotatable manually operable hand-wheel or disk therefor, part of theglazing of the chamber in the rear being broken away. Fig. 4 is a detailplan view of the elements shown in Fig. 3 with the operatively connectedmechanism associated therewith, including the display-disk gearing, andthe optical device with the means for illuminating the spec imen underexamination. Fig. 5 is a detail view, showing the under face of thedisplaydisk with its gearing, and the electro-magnetically controlledlocking device for said disk. Fig. dis a like detail of the lockingmeans only, in another relative position to that shown in Fig. 5, andFig. 7 is a detail view of the mounting of the locking roller onthebell-crank lever of said locking means.

My invention is particularly designed and appropriated for use as acoin-controlled apparatus including a display element having oa anumberofjsmall objects of different kinds removably, mounted thereon and of aninteresting character, and the apparatus also inchides a magnifyingeye-piece or microscope positioned to afford magnified views ofsaid 60.

objects intur'n assaid display element is moved to properly position aselected one of said objects into the field of sight of the magnifier.There is also included means whereby the observer may initiate a trainof mechanical, movements in coordination, in the selecting of such anobject for observation as magnified, and. then by deposition ofa coin orother body may cause the actuation of a timer adapted tooperate anelectricalmaka. and-break device in' a circuit including anelectromagnet and a locking device controlled thereby to lock thedisplay element at periodicintervals,or unlock the same.

The principal mechanisms of this inven- 7n tion are inclosed in acabinet 1 having superposed compar tments,of which the upper one isseparated from thelower by a horizontal partition 4, and is glazed attop, front and sides, to permit a view'of the contained mechanism, theupper part of the glazed top 2 being preferably inclined forwardly anddownwardly to the vertical front glazing 3. Thefront wall of the cabinetis apertured to receive a boxed timer 5, which may be of any desiredtype, containing clock-controlled means for making and breaking anelectrical circuit, for instance, derived from an electric lightingequipment and socket not shown.

The boxing or front part 7' of the timer is shaped with a deposit slot 8and interior 1 chute to receive and'carry a coin into the timer toengage a movable element of the timer in causing a starting of the clockand in making a switch closing in said circuit to energize anelectromagnet 37 with which conductors 9 and 10 are to be parts of thecircuit and which, conductors are-also carried to the terminals ofa,lamp 35 in a box or case 33 having a Wall aperture 34 directed 100 ion30 in mesh with toward a marginal part of the rotary display disk 19 tobe alined with one of the circular openings 20 therein. However, nothlng1s claimed herein specifically as to the tlmer mechanism itself.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the marginally apertured rotary disk 19 ismounted upon a shaft 15 within the glazed compartment of the housing andin a bearing member 26 at its lower end, its upper end traversing theglazing 2 and an elliptical face-plate 12, mounted upon the outer faceof said glazing and having a depressed seat thereon to receive acircular dial 13 rigidly, the outer termination of the shaft 15 abovethe dial having fixed thereon a short index 14 to rotate in either ofopposite directions to ndicate numerals around the dial. Upon said shaft15 immediately below the rotary disk-19 is secured a relatively largespur gear 24, and

beneath the latter on said shaft is also secured a smaller spur gear 25,the latter having the same number of teeth as the number of the numeralsdisplayed on sa d dial. A bracket member 27 on the bearlng body 26carries two step-bearings 28 and 32, the bearing 28 seating the lowerend of a rotary shaft 18 on which is secured a relatively small p nanidler gear 31 wh1ch latter is in mesh with the large gear 24. The shortshaft of the idler gear 31 1s stepped in the bearing 32. The numeral 29denotes a pair of contacting friction disks, one secured on thestep-bearing 28, and the other on the shaft 18, and serveto produce somedragging resistance to rotation of the shaft 18, the upper part of whichtraverses an aperture in the glazing 2 and the plate 12 and is suppliedwith a circular terminal knob 17 for manual operation.

The rotary disk 19 has as many circular marginal holes in an annularconcentrlc arrangement thereon as the number of the numerals on saiddial 13. As shown 1n said Fig. 4, paired object-glasses 21 and 22 may beremovably mounted over each hole 20 and secured by clips 23. The underglass 21 may have any small object to be magnified mounted thereonbeneath the cover glass 22. The numeral 16 denotes a microscope of asimple character mounted in registering apertures of the face-plate 12and the glazing 2 so as to be alined with any of the holes 20 in thedisk 19 in turn as the latter is rotated to effect such an alinement.Beneath the disk 19 and having its opening 34 positioned to also alinewith any of the holes 20 in the disk 19 in the same way, is a smallboxed lamp 33, whose lamp 35 is in circuit with the conductors 9 and 10.

Referring to said Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, 1

have shown therein an electromagnetically controlled locking device forthe display disk 19. This device includes an electromagnet 37 in seriescircuit by means of the conductors 9 and 10 with said lamp 35 and withthe timer 5. On the casing of the electromagnet is a bracket 38 uponwhich is pivoted at 39 the angle of a bell-crank lever having members 40and 43 at approximately a right angle to each other, the member 40having an anti-friction roller 41 at its end mounted on a pintle 53 andpositioned to be held in elastically contacting engagement with theteeth of the gear wheel 25, under traction of a spring 42 connected tosaid member, and which spring may be anchored to the bearing 26 adjacentthereto. An armature arm 52 has its rectangular boss opposite the magnetend, and the arm is pivoted at 51 on a fixed arm on the magnet casing.The arm 52 has a finger part 50 adapted to be reecived into arectangular notch 44 in the outer end part of the member 43 of thebell-crank lever at times, engagingly. Thearm 52 also has near its pivotand extending oppositely from the electromagnet a short aperturedprojection 49. An arm 46 has one end pivoted at 45 to the end of themember 43 and its free end traverses the aperture in the projection 49loosely, the arm 46 having an annular flange spaced from itstermination, and a small relatively weak coiled spring 48 is mounted onthe arm 46 between said flange and the projection 49.

0pe1at2'0n.-This invention is designed to be placed in some placefrequented by the public, such as a hotel lobby, and to be accompaniedby a printed and illustrated prospectus displayed thereon or near by,explaining the apparatus generally, and the character of the objectsdisplayed therein for examination singly, or in any desired rotation. Aperson or operator may drop a coin of designated value in the chutemouth 8 of the timer 7, after first turning the knob 17 to, by means ofthe above described gearing, rotate the display disk 19 to locate one ofthe objects between the object glasses 21 and 22 in alinement with thelamp 35, this adjustment being shown by the index 14 on the disk-shaft15 pointing then to a numeral on the dial 13 which relates to theparticular object. It will be understood that the disk 19 is initiallyin unlocked condition.

Fig. 6 shows the locking means in unlocked condition, with the roller 41held just out of engagement with teeth of the gear wheel 25 because ofthe engagement of the finger 50 of the armature 52 with the notch 44 ofthe bell-crank lever 40 and 43. The disk 19 .is thus freely rotatable bythe use of the knob 17 and said gearing by the observer. The microscope16 will be alined with the object-glasses 21 and 22 as selected by theobserver and when he has appropriately rotated the disk 19 therefor.However, it will be useless for the observer to look through themicroscope at the object beneath, for the latter is yet unlighted andcannot be distinctly seen.

coin-controlled actuation.

open, the spring 42 stresses the incense,

In order 'for'him. to see the selected object;

servation, for instance one minute before operating to open the circuit,and also so that the closing of the circuit through the elec tromagnetin energizing it, may attract the armature 52 to the contact with itshownin Fig. 5,,wherein the shifting armature with its projection 49acts upon the spring 48 and arm 46 to trip the member43 to disengage itsnotch 44 from the finger. 50. Traction o1 the stronger spring 42 thenreturns the member 40 to engage the roller 41 with teeth of the gear 25as in Fig. 5, so that the said gear and the disk 19 are locked againstrotation for the space of one minute of permitted observation of theselected object. The clock acting at the end of the minute by suitablemeans of a make-and-break kind to open the circuit, the electroniagnet37 becomes deenergized, so that the smaller spring 48 which is alwaysunder some tension, thrusts upon the projection 49 rocking the armatureaway from the pole of the magnet and the finger 50 reengages the notch44 in the bell-crank lever member 43, holding the roller out ofengagement with the teeth of gear 25. The lamp on opening of the circuitis simultaneously extinguished, so that the apparatus is re stored toits first condition, ready for another The coin passes through the timerafter its operating contact, and into a receptacle 11 below.

It should be noted, that the timer, electromagnet and the lamp are inseries circuit -with an alternating electric current, as a lightingcircuit including the usual plugged in conductors. Such a circuit isfound everywhere in electric lighting, so that it is most convenient formy apparatus. However, the

alternating current being intermittent in character, when the circuit isclosed through the electromagnet 3?, the released armature 52 beingattracted toward the armature pole, is alternately brought into contacttherewith and withdrawn rapidly which creates a disagreeable continuousbuzz or hum. To revent this noise, I have provided the above describedtrain of elements consisting of the bell-crank lever 43, its springconnection 42, the engaging the projection 49 on the arm 50. si hen thistrain of elements is in position relatively to the gear 25 and theelectromagnet- 37 as shown in Fig. 6, with the circuit lighter spring48, the la ter being always under light tension, and the train is heldwith the armature held by its finger engaged with the notch 44 in thelever member 43, and thus the armature is locked out of contact with thearm 46 with light spring 48 thereon pole of'the elcctromagnet, while thelever arm 40 l1as its end roller 41 out of engagement with the teeth ofthe gear 25. The observer can then initially rotate the disk 19 to placethe selected object to be viewed under the. magnifier. The observerhaving then dropped a coin into the chute 8, the timer is started,closing simultaneously the series circuit through the lamp 35, and theelectromagnet. The latter attracts the armature, which attractiontogether with the stress of the compressedspring 48, overcomes thespring 42, so the lever 4043 isrocked to engage its roller 41 with thegear 25, and as the lever arm 43', rocks upwardly, the finger 50 isallowed to swing away from-the electromagnet and into engagement withthe notch 44 aided by the reacting spring48, so at-the first thearmature is thus locked-when the gear 25 is locked, andrthe disk is-heldlocked during the predetermined period of-observation of theobect,-.asshown in Fig. 5. Atthe'expira tion of this period, the timeropens the circuit, so that the roller is disengaged fromthe gear 25,-and the apparatus cleared for another action by coin deposit.

Having, described my invention, what" I claim as new, and" desiretosecure byLetters Patent, is w V 1. In apparatus of the characterdescribed, embodying a rotatable-carriertor a pluralityof objectsdisplayed upon it concentrically, amagnifier fixedly positioned forobservation" of selected ones of said objects, manually operablemechanism forrotating thecarrier toselectively place any of said objectsforfobe servation by use of the magnifier, an electric lamp, ,a coin.controlled timer, an electrical circuit containing saidlamp and timerinseries thetimer being adapted to make andbreakthe circuit atdeterminedtime intervals, and means for initiating actuation of the timer,consistingof the combination with the timer and the carrier rotatingmechanism, of means electrically controlled by said timer, includingcoacting resiliently controlled elements, adapted to lock said carrierduring the said predetermined period of observation of an object and tounlock the carrierat the termination of said period. 7

, 2. In apparatus of the character described, embodying. a carriermovable to exhibit selectively objects mountedthereon, a magnifierpositioned to viewany of such objects selected, illuminating meansfor-the selectedobject, analternating electrical circuit in--cludingsaid illuminating means, a make and breakdevice in said circuit,the combination of an electromagnet in said circuit, an armature movablysupportedto be attracted by the electromagnet core when said circuit isclosed, a lockingdevice associated with said armature, means-for movingsaid carrier said locking device being composed of a train of movableelements intermediate said armature and the means for moving saidcarrier including a pair of differentially powered springs interlinkedseparately with others of said elements and coacting with the armature,said train of elements and springs coacting to eliminate noisyvibrations of the armature while the circuit is closed due to theintermittent cycles of said circuit, and said train also operating tolock the carrier during a predetermined time period ofobservation. 3.,In an apparatus of the class described, embodying a movable carrier anda coin-controlled timer in an alternating electrical circuit, thecombination of an electromagnet in said circuit, a movable armature forsaid electromagnet, coacting devices operatively associated movably withsaid armature and including a braking element releasably engageable withsaid carrier, and differentially powered oppositely acting resilientmeans, one connected with said braking element, and the other looselyengaged between a part of I said armature and an intermediate one ofsaid coacting devices.

4:, In an apparatus of the class described, embodying a rotatablecarrierhaving a gearwheel fixed thereon coaxially, the combination withan alternating electrical circuit containing acoin-controlledmake-and-break device and an electromagnet, includingreleasable braking means for said gear-wheel in a train of movableelements connected to the I armature of the electromagnet, said traincon-' sisting of a pivoted swinging armature having projections spacedangularly apart, one being terminally apertured the other serving as adetent finger, a bell-crank lever pivoted at its medial angle and havinga terminal roller to engage teeth of said gear-wheel on one arm andresilient means connected to said arm tending to yieldingly retain saidroller in such engagement, the other arm of said'leverhaving a recessedseat for engagement at times by said detent finger of the armature, anarm pivoted at one end to the termination of said recessed arm andhaving spaced from its other end a stop collar, this end of the swingingarm loosely traversing the aperture in the other arm of the armature,and a coiled spring compressibly loosely mounted between thelast-mentioned arm and the collar on the said swinging arm, wherebybuzzing vibrations of the armature caused by the alternating current inthe electromagnet are dampened and substantially prevented, theresilient means connected to the braking arm of the bell-crank leverbeing more powerful than the power of the said coiled spring.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, embodying a movable carrierhaving a coaxial gear-wheel fiXed thereon, the combination with acoin-controlled timer, an alternating electrical circuit controlled bysaid:

